“Vanessa? No I think you’re mistaken. Vanessa doesn’t say more than two words to me. We correspond by email even though her office is attached to mine.” Love, we really made it hard for ourselves. My matchmaker hat flew on…
“Let’s see what some Gatsby sparkle does?” I laughed, already wondering how I could maneuver them under some mistletoe.
He laughed. “See you tomorrow, Clio. And thanks again.”
Once I hung up, I emailed Vanessa. What? So the matchmaker instinct was strong in me.
Timothy mentioned how much he’s looking forward to dancing with you at the Gatsby party. I hope you have your dancing shoes at the ready…
She replied instantly:
He did?!
I left it at that. Sometimes the only way forward was when someone gave you a little shove.
***
In the ballroom, Isla’s face was dusted with glitter, and she sneezed before greeting me with a quick wave. “We’re going to be sweeping up gold for the next ten years,” she laughed as she tied a bunch of balloons together and put them by the cocktail bar.
Scotty ran underfoot, leaving a trail of debris in his wake. To say he was quite enamored with the decorations was an understatement and none of us wanted to begrudge him his fun.
That was until Scotty munched on one of the feather boas and Micah suggested we put the puppy outside while we finished up.
Amory’s eyes flashed and she lifted Scotty to her chest. “You… you MONSTER! It’s freezing out and you want me to put a poor defenseless animal outside for the sake of one piddly feather boa?”
“He’s got a God given fur coat,” Micah added unhelpfully. “And a furry jacket to boot.”
She narrowed her eyes, “You are truly despicable! When you and Isla have your first child I will remember this and instead of getting a gold locket for their first lock of hair, you’re now getting silver!” She stomped off and it was all I could do not to laugh.
Micah let out a snort. “What the hell!”
I shook my head, “Let’s just keep going. I’m sure you’ll convince her to go back to a gold locket soon?” I laughed and we continued decorating.
On the table we had vases full of feathers, the tips dipped in gold, and glittery candles, and strings of pearls were draped over the back of each chair. The photo booth was set up in the corner with props: moustaches on sticks, feather boas, black and gold cigarette holders and pearl necklaces.
Micah had convinced Kai to stop the renovations he’d been doing on the chalets to help us decorate and they’d already draped the ceiling in black tulle which cascaded down elegantly. Watching Kai working I realized we hadn’t spoken for a full day; sure, he’d been busy, but I also wondered if he was avoiding me.
Snapping myself out of it I looked at the rest of the room, trying to get my head back in the game. We’d hung various art deco signs saying things like: Drop it like F Scott, and Prohibition ends here. I was giddy with how great the ballroom looked. It was completely transformed, and you’d never have recognized it from the bridal expo we’d held just over a week ago.
Sailing back into the kitchen Cruz had everything under control. I could tell by the way he glided around humming, his chef’s whites pristine, foodie smells scenting the air. “All OK?” I asked.
“Smashing, dollface.”
I laughed.
“I’ll mind my potatoes, then!” I trilled in my best attempt at a flapper accent, and sashayed out. We were on track! This party was going to propel guests back to the twenties, and who didn’t want to spend some time in the jazz era?
We had a few hours until the guests were arriving so I went to find Amory and check she was OK after her spat with poor Micah, who was still confused over how he’d upset her. But Amory had fallen hard for her canine progeny, and her protectiveness for Scotty was adorable.
Taking the steps two at a time, I found Amory talking earnestly to Isla halfway up the stairs about how to apply eyeshadow for the smoky eyes effect.
“We’re all set, pretty much,” I said.
“Why don’t we get ready together and I can show Isla how it’s done?” said Amory when I caught up.
“Let’s! The jazz band is arriving in an hour, and we’ve got to help Aunt Bessie set up too. So let’s get our skates on.”
I let them go ahead and watched them giggle like schoolgirls as they ran up the stairs, Scotty going at double speed to catch them on his little legs. I couldn’t wait to transform myself into a flapper, who said dress-up was dead?
After a quick shower I joined the girls in Amory’s suite.
“Oh my god, Isla you look like Clara Bow herself!” She was draped in pearls and had an exotic and intricate feathery headpiece attached with her hair curled and tucked up. Amory had applied her makeup perfectly – smoky eyes, ruby red lips.
“Thanks, Clio! I feel like I’ve dunked my head into wet cement, but the mirror certainly says otherwise.”
I laughed, remembering Isla rarely wore make-up and was usually more comfortable wearing work clothes than sequined dresses and heels.
Amory clucked her tongue. “I’m so proud,” she joked, and began getting herself ready, including applying false lashes encrusted with diamantes that made her look every inch a twenties movie starlet.
An hour and a bit later we sparkled and shimmied as we walked down stairs, in a mixture of sequins, beads and pearls. They sure knew how to dress to impress back in the jazz era.
Micah was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and held out a hand to Isla, kissing her sweetly on the cheek and murmuring in her ear. Cruz was still in the kitchen so Amory went to show off her Charleston moves to him there. I was about to head out on my pre-party check, but I gasped when I saw Kai standing off to the side, a thumb looped in the pocket of his three-piece suit. The wavy-haired athlete had vanished and was replaced with a suave and sophisticated specimen of a man. Was it hot in here? His blue eyes shone appreciatively as he gave me a slow once-over.
“It’s clear to me now that you were born in the wrong era, Clio…”
“Likewise, mister.” We stared into each other’s eyes and I wondered why he’d been avoiding me. I wanted to ask him, but Aunt Bessie walked in, arms laden with boxes. Besides, it smacked of desperation, didn’t it?
“There you are, you glamour puss, can you take this please.”
Kai, ever the gentleman, stepped forward, “Here, let me take those.”
She gave him a saucy eyebrow waggle. “If I was younger…”
“Aunt Bessie!” I said, shocked.
“What? He looks good enough to eat.”
Laughter burbled from me. “Let’s get you set up.”
From the boxes Aunt Bessie unloaded a range of donuts, burnished gold and black to suit the theme.
“They’re so pretty, Aunt Bessie!” I said, ogling a tray of mini gold glitter donuts.
“I’ve got the most amazing cake pops too, done with edible black lacquer, so clear you can see yourself in them.”
We went briskly back to work, setting up her dessert table. Before I knew it, cars were crunching the gravel and our first guests arrived, drawing excited squeals from us all. Amory and I would usually be hosting a party near Times Square, waiting for the ball drop, but here we were making Cedarwood Lodge the place to be. Even though we were technically working, it felt like a fairytale come true to be sashaying around the lodge in a flapper dress.
Taking a moment I watched as everyone got into position. We were getting more organized, my team, like a finely tuned machine, and I beamed with pride.
“Well, everyone. Let’s go welcome out guests to the jazz age and show them one hell of a party!” Amory whooped and we swarmed to the entrance.
Amory welcomed guests, checking them off the guest list, whilst Micah showed them the way and Isla handed them a glass of champagne as they floated past.
Men wore dapper suits and women were dressed flamboyantly. I w
as impressed people had made such an effort, it wasn’t always the case – but who didn’t like the glitz and glamour of another era? The romance, the poetry, the shunning of rules and regulations in the twenties. It was impossible not smile at the women speaking huskily, or throwing their heads back laughing hard as if they were truly transported to another time.
When Vinnie arrived we fussed and fawned over him and his guest of honor, Mr Whittaker. As soon as they even thought about another drink their champagne flutes were refilled. When one of them fumbled for a napkin, another was pressed into his hand. When I sailed past them for the third time, checking everything was going well, both of them were smiling as Amory regaled them with a hilarious story by the look on their faces.
The jazz band played the Charleston, and people danced and kicked up their heels. They tangoed, did the foxtrot, only stopping to guzzle champagne as though it was water. Even the most sedate of guests was inspired to join the others on the dancefloor. The tap of high heels made me smile; this is what I wanted for the lodge – fun, frivolity, dancing!
With the party in full swing, the guests’ sunny faces and raucous laughter high in the air, I signaled to the girls that it was time to take a breather – safe in the knowledge everything was on track, the skill-hire staff were working well and everyone was having fun.
Amory and Isla huddled by a wall, sneaking their first glass of champagne and gossiping about the guests – who wore the prettiest dress, and who danced like no one was watching.
“Look at how happy they are,” Amory said, sneaking another peek through the window. “This is one of the best parties we’ve ever done, Clio, and we’ve done some truly spectacular ones.”
“I think so too,” I said, grinning as I sent up a silent thank you to F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda for making the jazz era so fashionable and so much fun to recreate.
Isla sipped her champagne and as she craned her neck back to sip, a slim necklace that she was wearing caught the light. I hadn’t noticed it when we were getting ready. It was truly beautiful, a delicate constellation of stars, shimmering and twinkling under the lights.
“What’s the symbolism of your necklace, Isla?” I asked. “It’s gorgeous! Is it to do with the stars Micah named after you?”
She flushed deep scarlet, bringing out the freckles on her nose. “Umm, yeah. We ah…” she frantically waved Micah over, who was restocking the champagne behind the bar. When he got to her they clutched hands, and he searched her face for clues; it must have dawned on him because he nodded. “We were going to wait until the party was finished before we asked you, but…”
“Ask me?” Isla darted a nervous glance up at Micah, and he grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Oh my god, ask me what?” I had a feeling I knew what it was and goosebumps broke out over my skin in anticipation.
“So ah… would you and Amory be our wedding planners?”
Amory and I jumped and squealed as quietly as we could. There was nothing quite as romantic as planning a wedding, but to plan one of your best friend’s, well, that was even better.
I grabbed Isla and gave her a hug, “Oh my god! You’re getting married!” I pulled Micah into the hug, and Amory clasped her hands around the outside and we were one big circle of shrieking joyfulness. I was immediately in the realm of neither here nor here, stuck happily mentally planning their big day… A winter wedding, the lodge lit up with fairy lights, their special constellation twinkling above, an ice sculpture, white roses, simple yet elegant…
“You guys, oh you’ve made this year end on the highest of notes.” I waved Kai over, and Amory dashed to the kitchen to get Cruz, and came back with a bottle of bubbly under one arm and a bewildered Cruz in the other.
“Will you do the honors, Micah?” She handed him the bottle.
The cork popped, and foamy bubbles raced up and over. Flutes filled I said, “On behalf of Cedarwood Lodge, and all who inhabit the grand old dame, I’d like to congratulate Micah and Isla on their engagement.”
Kai and Cruz shook Micah’s hand in turn, slapping him on the back in the way that men do, and hugged Isla, kissing her on the cheek. Tears welled in my eyes; it felt like the most enchanted moment and I was so thrilled they’d shared it with us tonight of all nights, where magic was in the air and anything could happen.
We clinked glasses and toasted the happy couple.
One of the waiters bustled over. “Ready for the countdown?”
“Is it that time already?” I asked. The night had flown past. It felt like it had only just started and here we were on the cusp of a new year.
“Yep, I’ll get the mixologist to count it down?”
“Please.”
The mixologist had turned out to be seriously popular among the guests, not only could he mix a good gimlet but he laughed and joked with the crowd, making them feel special. And he wasn’t ugly either, let’s just put it that way. Amory had chosen well, and I hoped to secure him for every future Cedarwood Lodge event. If we could continue to tempt him out to the wilderness of Evergreen, that was.
“Ready for a new year?” I asked my friends, eventually settling my gaze on Kai’s. He took my hand and squeezed it, giving me a look loaded with meaning.
The countdown started as everyone paired up and raced outside to the decked area to watch the fireworks. Ten. Nine. Eight. We all chorused, a whole group of people together in one moment in time. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. I felt Kai pull me away from the crowd. Two. His arms closed around my waist and all I could do was stare into his eyes. One. Cheers rang out as the fireworks lit up the sky in a riot of color. But I didn’t hear a word because Kai’s lips were pressed firmly against mine, and I felt as if I was floating. Here I was, surrounded by my friends, a deck full of strangers, and Kai exactly where he should be – with me.
As the world spun dizzyingly around as the opening to Auld Lang Syne rang out and the guests joined in… this truly was the most magical of moments.
Amory came up behind us. “Before we get back to work, let’s share our New Year’s resolutions,” she said, dragging Cruz behind her. “You first Cruz.”
Cruz, the only one not in a suit, still looked handsome in his chef’s whites. “I want to find the perfect recipe for beef wellington and I’m willing to put in weeks of practice. Is anyone willing to be my taste tester? I warn you, it’s going to be a lot of fun…”
Amory raised a brow. “Oh sorry, darling I’ve signed up to be Aunt Bessie’s new taste tester. And I might be a little busy fulfilling my own resolution – to buy every kitten-heeled Jimmy Choo I can get my hands on. It’s such a hard life.”
“You Clio?” she said, turning to me.
“I…” I froze as all eyes were on me, worried I’d blurt out something about Kai.
“OK. We’ll come back to you, what about you Kai?”
Kai blushed and averted his eyes.
“You two are useless,” Amory remarked, turning on her six-inch heels and sauntering off into the crowd as the mixologist gestured for her help. Guests were clinking glasses, and some were locking lips under doorways laced with mistletoe.
Micah and Isla were called away by guests. But Micah paused before he left and whispered to me, “When you know, you know.” He was referring to his marriage proposal, and I gave him a quick squeeze.
We’d been through a lot, Micah and me, sometimes we’d been there for each other, and sometimes we hadn’t, but now he’d found the perfect girl. One who loved him unconditionally, who didn’t take him for granted, who didn’t stamp all over his dreams. He’d known she was the one from the moment he saw her, and I’d been there and caught the moment Cupid’s arrow struck his heart. When you know, you know, he’d said. And I couldn’t help thinking his sentiment applied to me, too. Hadn’t I known it the first time Kai jumped from the cab of his truck?
I recognized him, yet I hadn’t met him before, or something primal happened, because the world got brighter, music sounded swee
ter, laughter came quicker, and all of that only paled when he wasn’t here. And I couldn’t let that happen again.
Shuffling on our feet, we tried to talk but the music had been turned up and I soon found myself pulled back to the party – ensuring everyone’s champagne flutes were filled to the brim and farewelling a few guests as they left, slightly wobblier than when they’d arrived. I grinned when I saw Kai get strong-armed into dancing with a foxy seventy-something-year-old who wouldn’t take no for answer.
Hours later, the party was winding down; women carried their heels and men had shrugged off their coats. The last partygoers were sitting around drinking the last of the champagne. The party had been a roaring success but it wasn’t quite over yet. By the photo booth Timothy stood with Vanessa, they had their heads bent conspiratorially and before I could avert my eyes, they kissed, and I smiled, glad Tim would find his own happy ever after, because he deserved someone to love.
“Go,” Amory said, tapping me on the butt.
“Go where?”
She pointed, Kai was standing outside on the deck, fairy lights twinkling above him, his hands deep in pockets. He cut a fine figure standing under the moonlight with soft snowflakes drifting down.
I gave Amory’s hand a squeeze and went to him.
Sensing my presence he turned and gave me a heart melting smile. I smiled back; I couldn’t help it – even if Kai was about to break my heart, being around him just made me feel lighter.
“Clio, I’ve been heartsick at the thought of leaving…”
I couldn’t speak. I just stared at him, my hand tingling in his. Eventually I managed to nod.
“When I wake up,” he whispered, “I’m thinking of you, when I sleep you inhabit my dreams. Your smile, your laugh, the way you cry to Bonnie Tyler when you think no one can hear…” he tailed off and a smile crept onto his face.
Midnight and Mistletoe At Cedarwood Lodge Page 11
